Belt catcher and supporter



(No Model.) S. N. SILVER.

BELT GATGHER AND SUPPORTBR. No. 340 629. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

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6 mfarney N. PETERS PhflkrLRhographar, Wnihingwn. u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL N. SILVER, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

BELT CATCHER AND SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,629, dated April27, 1886.

Application filed January JG, 1886. Serial No. 159,818. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. SILVER, of Auburn, in the county ofAndroseoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Belt Catchers and Supporters; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in I belt catchers or supports.

In sewing machines, particularly those which are adapted to be used inmanufacturing establishments, and run by power, the sup porting-framefor the needle, needle-shaft, and mechanism immediately connectedtherewith is adapted to be tilted backwardly for oiling or otherpurposes. The backwardly-tilting motion of the said frame tends toslacken the belt which connects the pulley on the needleshaft with thedrive-pulley on the drive-shaft, and thereby renders it liable to slipout of place, hindering and annoying the operator.

The object of my present invention is to provide a catcher or supportfor keeping the tension of the belt nearly or quite uniform throughoutthe tilting movement of the needlesnpporting frame.

\Vith this end in viewmy invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of asewing-machine hinged to a support, the driving-shaft, belt, and beltcatcher or support. The position of the parts, when the machine istilted backwardly, is shown in dotted lines in the same figure. Fig. 2is a front View of the belt catcher or support, and Figs. 3 and 4represent modifications.

A represents a table, bench, or other suitable support for thesewing-machine.

B represents the supportingframe of the machine, in which frame theneedle-shaftG is journaled and provided with the belt'pulley l), rigidlysecured thereon. The base of the frame B is hinged at its rear end tothe support A, as shown at E. The drive-shaft F, with its drive-pulleyGr secured thereon, is

located below, and somewhat to the rear of the shaft 0 and pulley D.

H indicates the belt connecting the drive pulley G with the pulley C.

By noticing the course (shown by a curved dotted line) which the pulleyD takes when the machine is tilted backwardly, it will be seen that itapproaches the pulley G quite rapidly after it has swung a shortdistance, and that the belt II, by the time the pulleyD reaches theposition D and the frame 13 rests against the stop I), will become veryslack.

At a point nearly or .quite in the projected axis of the hinge Ea peg orspool, I, is placed, occupying a position across the path in which thebelt 11 would travel as the machine is tilted backwardly. The peg orspool I might be set rigidly in position; but I prefer to support it.yieldingly, as shown in the drawings.

L represents a piece of spring-wire bent laterally at its upper end toreceive a spool, I, and coiled at or near its base, as shown at K, togive it a yielding motion in the direction of the path in which the belttravels. At its lower end the wire L is turned outwardly and bentintriangular shape to receive the threearmed clamp M, which is secured tothe base by means of ascrew or bolt, at. As the two parts of the belt Hare brought in contact with the spool, the belt is shortened a little,and as the pulley D swings backwardly the spool I will yield enough tokeep the tension quite uniform.

This simple device for catching or supporting the belt maybe constructedin several approved ways.

In'Fig. 3 the arm L, carrying the spool, is constructed of cast metal orother rigid mate rial, and the spool I formed integral therewith orsecured firmly thereto. The arm L is provided with a circular disk, I,which works in a socket, O, secured to a rigid support.

The disk Z is secured within the socket by a g Y I 340,629

It is evident that slight changes might be I 3. In a sewing-machine inwhich the neeresorted to in the shapes and arrangements of the severalparts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; henceI do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein setforth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with a belt connecting thedrive shaft with the needle-shaft, the latter being journaled in atilting frame, ofa yielding peg'or spool located in the path of thebelt, and adapted to catch andsupport the same when the frame is tilted,substantially as set forth.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with a belt connecting thedrive-shaft with the needle-shaft, the latter being journaled in amovable frame, of a peg or spool secured to the end of a springarm, andadapted to clutch and support the belt when the table is tilted,substantially as set forth,

dle-shaft is journaled to a support adapted to be moved toward and awayfrom the drive shaft, a belt catcher and supporter consisting,essentially, of an arm carrying a peg or spool 011 its upper end andconnected with V a rigid support in a yielding rocking adjustment, thesaid peg or spool adapted to catch and support the belt while the tableremains in a tilted position, substantially as set forth. 4. The beltcatcher and support consisting, essentially, of the spring-wire bent atits upper end to support the spool and at its lower end to receive theclamp, and coiled between its upper and lower end to give it elasticityfor the purpose, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL N. SILVER,

\Vi tn esses:

NATHAN W. HARRIS, FLAVILLA A. LUcE.

